Chia-Jen Lo is expected to join the Astros next spring at training camp in Kissimmee, Fla.

Chia-Jen Lo is expected to join the Astros next spring at training camp in Kissimmee, Fla.

Photo: Jared Barnes, For The Chronicle

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The Astros got a reliever for next season (LaTroy Hawkins, above) and a pitcher for the future (Chia-Jen Lo).

The Astros got a reliever for next season (LaTroy Hawkins, above) and a pitcher for the future (Chia-Jen Lo).

Photo: Eric Kayne, Chronicle

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Astros finalize deals for pitchers Hawkins, Lo

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The Astros took a solid step in their off-season plans Friday by finalizing a one-year deal to retain reliever LaTroy Hawkins. General manager Ed Wade also introduced Taiwanese righthander Chia-Jen Lo, the first player signed under the club’s new director of Pacific Rim Scouting Glen Barker.

Hawkins, whom the Astros acquired in July after he was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, was one of the biggest reasons Cecil Cooper’s club surged in the second half of the season. Lo, a 22-year-old reliever from the Chinese Taipei 2008 Olympic team, is at least two years from appearing in the majors.

“Back in July when we acquired LaTroy it was really with the goal of trying to take some of the pressure off Doug Brocail,” Wade said. “Doug was either up or in just about every game for the first half of the season and we were really concerned that we were going to wear him out sooner rather than later.”

Hawkins received a one-year, $3.5 million with incentive clauses. After going 1-1 while giving up 26 earned runs over 41 innings with the Yankees, the veteran righthander was an amazing 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA while giving up only one earned run over 21 innings.

“We never expected it to be quite as profound as it was,” Wade said of Hawkins’ impact. “We just feel that bringing him in here gives us some real certainty in the eighth inning. We’re still trying to bring Doug back.

“David Gottfried, who negotiated the Hawkins contract, is talking to Doug’s agent as well, and we’d love to have them both in our mix, because — really in our league particularly — bullpen strength is a big plus.”

Hawkins could have waited to field offers from other clubs next Friday, but he was adamant about returning to the Astros. Houston also appears to have been Lo’s primary destination.

“There’s not any other club (that tried) to sign him,” Lo’s interpreter said. “And the Astros were the first one, so he thinks it’s a good opportunity.”

At this point, Lo projects to a reliever or a back-of-the-rotation starter. Although he will be invited to major league spring training, he’s likely to begin the season at Class A Lancaster or low Class A Lexington.

“He really likes the closer role,” Barker said of Lo. “He has that look in his eye when he gets out on the mound. He’s ready to go. That’s what he likes to do. He has four pitches, so that possibility is there. … He has a real overpowering fastball, really a good split, a good curve and a slider. He has a potential to be a starter.”

Gottfried is continuing to negotiate with Brocail’s agent, Barry Meister.